SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0245 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 16, 2003. Please note that Turkish press reports often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS ¶2. Turkiye / In Mersin province, security officials found two members of Hizbullah. Allegedly they are responsible for the kidnapping of Ramazan Gumus and Huseyin Bayburt. ¶3. Evrensel / At a meeting in Diyarbakir, the Diyarbakir Youth Platform announced that they are against any decision to deploy Turkish troops in Iraq. The group also focused on the deteriorating health of Abdullah Ocalan in prison and wanted better conditions for him. Approximately 100 people attended the meeting. ¶4. Evrensel / An illiterate mother from Mersin went to the Registration Office and wanted to name her girl "Rewsen", a Kurdish name. The officials denied her request and she was offered a Turkish name, "Rahsan", instead. She refused the Turkish name and the officials gave her the ID card. When she came home, she discovered that the ID card had the Turkish name written on it. ECONOMIC ¶5. Turkiye / As a result of 75 days of gravity measurements and test work, Aladdin Middle East Petrol Company found petrol in Karakilise, Diyarbakir province. ¶6. Turkiye / Saban Bas, Head of the Adana Chamber of Commerce, announced that the International Industrial Fair scheduled from October 6 to 12 in Adana, will provide 2 million dollars in aid for the Adana economy. ¶7. Bolge / Turkish Airlines (THY) started direct flights between Adana and Izmir. According to a THY spokesperson, flights will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays departing from Adana at 11:50 a.m and departing from Izmir at 9:30 a.m. REID